Training devices



July 29, 1969 R. s. WADDINGTN ETAL 3,457,783

' TRAINING DEVICES Filed May 18, 1967 l /l/V PUT auf Par l LJ LJ '/////7/7///V} lnuenlors United States Patent O 3,457,783 TRAINING DEVICES Rogor Strange Waddington and Bruce Duval, Lausanne,

Switzerland, assignors to T.P.I. Limited, Nassau, Baharnas, a Bahamian company Filed May 18, 1967, Ser. No. 639,377 Claims priority, application Great BritainMay 19, 1966, 22,381/66 Int. Cl. G01w 1/00; F16h 1/40 U.S. Cl. 73-188 2 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A device for determining the apparent direction of the wind for a sailing simulator. The two inputs of rotation of the hull of the simulator about a vertical axis and true wind direction relative to a fixed reference direction are applied to a differential gearing arrangement. The output of the differential gear system represents the wind direction relative to the hull.

In our co-pending patent application Ser. No. 775,559 filed Nov. 13, 1968 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 518,688 tiled Jan. 4, 1966 and now abandoned we have described -a sailing simulator having a hull mounted for rotational movement about a vertical axis and a fore-aft axis, driving means moving the hull to and fro about the vertical axis in response to a helm (usually a tiller), heeling means for heeling the hull about the fore-aft axis in response to a heeling controller, a main sheet and a loading therefor which is responsive to a loading controller.

The use of the apparatus in training a pupil depends upon taking into account the changes in direction of the supposed wind as the hull rotates. Upon this direction depends the rotational behaviour of the hull in response to the helm and also the degree of heeling of the hull. As described in the said application, the degree of heel and response to the helm were under the control of an instructor who could make the necessary adjustments from his own experience.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of automatic means for sensing the apparent direction of the wind at any given time so that this parameter can be fed into an automatic device whose use renders the continuous supervision of an instructor unnecessary. This is achieved by the use of a differential gear containing three bevel pinions of which two are co-axial and the third has its axis normal to that of the other two. One of the co-axial pinions is driven by rotation of the hull and the other is driven by an applied signal which represents the true bearing of the wind. An output transmitter for feeding the automatic device has a shaft which is co-axial with the two input bevel pinions and carries the third bevel pinion.

SPECIFICATION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to training devices and has as an object the provision of a sailing simulator in an improved form. A sailing simulator can be used to train pupils, on dry land, in the art of sailing. The hull of the simulator turns in response to movement of the helm by the pupil and it is important that resulting changes in the wind direction relative to the hull should be taken into account. Upon them depend inter alia the angle of heel of the hull which must be made to respond as under actual sailing conditions. Also dependent upon them are the proper setting of the boom and the force required to hold it in an appropriate position. Thus it is desirable to generate a signal representing the wind direction relative to the hull.

ICC

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a device for determining the apparent direction of the wind for a sailing simulator which comprises a difierential containing three bevel pinions, of which two are c0- axial and of which the third has its axis normal to that of the other two, means for driving one yof the two co-axial bevel pinions in response to rotation of the hull about a vertical axis, means for driving the other co-axial bevel pinion in response to a signal representative of the true wind direction relative to a fixed reference direction and an output transmitter having a shaft which is co-axial with that of the two input bevel pinions and carries the third bevel pinion.

The device when set to correspond with a true wind direction relative to the fixed reference direction, transmits the wind direction relative to the fore-and-aft axis of the hull. The transmitted output varies as in actual sailing when the hull is moved by the action of the helm. It may be fed to a computor arranged to provide an output for controlling the angle of heel of the hull and preferably also the behaviour of the boom and helm. The device also enables an instructor to simulate rapid changes of wind direction such as occur in gusty conditions or in sailing waters Where land or other objects causes rapid shifts of wind by operating the wind direction transmitter.

The following description of an example of a device in accordance with the invention, in which description reference is made to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, is given by way of illustration.

The structure 1 carrying the hull (not shown) is xed to the casing of a motor 2 having a driving wheel arranged to rotate on the floor 3 on which the simulator is installed to swing the hull in response to helm movements. Fixed to the door 3 is a vertical shaft 4 carrying at its upper end a bevel pinion S.

Mounted on the structure 1 is a bracket 6 carrying a horizontal shaft 7 having at either end bevel pinions 8 and 9, bevel pinion 8 engaging with bevel pinion 5. Also mounted on the structure 1 is a hydraulic position actuator 10 the output from which to a bevel pinion 11 represents wind direction relative to a reference direction on the floor. The actuator 10 is conveniently an electric motor or hydraulic motor which can be caused to rotate through a desired angle and then locked in position.

Engaging with bevel pinions 9 and 11 is bevel pinion 12 carried on the shaft 13, bevel pinions 9, 11 and 12 forming a differential. Shaft 13 drives an output transmitter 14.

As the structure 1 rotates about the fixed shaft 4, bevel pinions 8 and 9 rotate by an amount representing changes in the direction of the fore-and-aft axis of the hull relative to the reference direction on the floor. The differential adds this algebraically to the represented wind direction appearing on bevel pinion 11 to provide a rotation of shaft 13 representing wind direction relative to the fore-and-aft axis of the hull. This rotation drives the output transmitter 14 to give a signal representing this latter direction. Rotation of the bevel 11 by means of the actuator 10 alters the position of the reference point representing wind direction. By virtue of the differential it is possible for the motor 2 and the actuator 10 to be operating simultaneously.

We claim:

1. A device for determining the apparent direction of the wind for a sailing simulator which comprises a differential containing three bevel pinions, of which two are coaxial and of which the third has its axis normal to that of the other two, means for driving one of the two co-axial 3 4 bevel pinons in response to rotation of a hull about a 'References Cited vertical axis, means for eiecting such rotation, means for UNITED STATES PATENTS drivlng the other co-axlal bevel pinlon 1n response to a signal representative of the true wind direction relative to 21363 087 11/1944 Sah'sbufy 73-188 a xed reference direction, means generating such direc- 2,364,411 12/1944 Whl'te 74-713 5 3,371,529 3/1968 Tlllman 73--188 tive signal and an output transmitter having a shaft which lcsarcrie mfg teavtefiggntwo Input bevel pmlons and RICHARD C. QUEISSER, Primary Examiner 2. A device according to claim 1 applied to a sailing J. W. MYRACLE, Assistant Examiner simulator having a hull pivotal about a vertical axis, a

controllable motor for inducing rotation of the hull, and U.S. C1. X.R.

means for changing the supposed direction of the wind. 74-713 

